Can



Feb. 23,1926. 1,574,239

C. G. FITZHUGH CAN Filed March 17 1925 Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,574,239 PATENT OFFICE.

CHAMPE GERALDINE FITZHUGH, OF WASHINQTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

can.

Application filed March 17, 1925. Serial No. 16,122.

- following is a Specification.

The present invention relates to cans, and more particularly to cans having side walls and end walls to form closed containers.

In use, one of the end walls of such a can is punctured near an edge thereof, through -which the contents ,of the can may be poured. If the contents are liquid, the liquid has a tendency to run over the said edge and down the side walls of the can, causing stains upon the table cloth on which the can may later rest, introducing elements of uncleanliness and being otherwise troublesome. It has therefore been pro osed to provide the can with a spout WhlCll shall control the flow of liquid; but all prior proposals have been clumsy and inpractical, being too expensive to manufacture, or involving the use of attachments that must be placed and replaced, or interfering with pro or packing of the cans for shipment, or ecoming easily broken, and for other reasons.

The object of the present invention, there fore, is to provide a new and improved can of the above-described character that shall be cheap and simple to manufacture, efficient in operation, durable and compact.

With the above end in view, a feature of the invention, resides in integrally proiriding the can with a spout that projects he yond the edge of the end walls, substantially in alinement with the side walls. The spout may be positioned a little out of alinement to facilitate packing.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views illustrating the invention in its preferred form, and Fig. 3' is a vertical section taken diagonally through the can upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and enlarged with respect to Fig. 2.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings in connection with cans of well known types, having side walls 2 and upper and lower end walls 4 and 6. The upperend wall 4 is integrally provided with a portion 8 that projects integrally beyond the edge the 10, Vertically, in substantial alinement with the side walls 2. It is preferred to have the portion 10 spaced 3. little from the side walls and parallel thereto, in order that a second can may be packed thereon, and a third over thesecond, and so on, to produce a column of cans. The spacing need'not be more than the thickness of the sheet metal of which the can is constituted. As shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the spacing is preferred about twice this thickness, because of ease of manufacture.

umn, separated by a space equal to the aforesaid thickness. The vertically disposed position of the portion 8 thus aids materially in the packing of the cans for shipment; and this position is further of advantage in that falling objects are less liable to strike ortion 8 and break it off than if the portion 8 extended out from the angle to the vertical.

The liquid contents ofthe can may be poured out-through an opening 12 in the end wall 4, a second opening 14 being preferabl provided for the ingress of air. The liqui first runs into the projecting, portion 8,the can being properly tilted with this end in view,which thus serves as a spout or funnel. From this spout, the liquld contents may run into any desired receptacle. By the use of a vstopper in the opening 14, which-may be drawn out more or less, as desired, the amount of liquid flowing out of the opening 12 may be controlled. At will,.this' amount may be a steady stream or only a drop at a time. It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the exact embodiment thereof that is illustrated and described herein, but that modifications may be made therein by persons skilled in' the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A closed container having side walls and end walls, the container being so shaped that there is no substantial clearance becan at an' Other columns of cans will be packed adjacent to the first 001- tween the side walls of a plurality of adjacently disposed containers of like character when the said containers are packed.

side walls to form a spout, whereby the spoutoccupies a minimum space between the side walls of adjacentlydisposed containers, so as to permit packing the containers with their side walls in substantial contact.

2. A closed container having side walls and end walls, the container being so shaped that there is no substantial clearance between the side walls of a plurality of adjaeentlydisposed containers of like charaett'elzwhen the said containers are packed together with their side walls in substantial contact, one of the end walls having a portion permanently projecting beyond an edge substantially in a-linement with the side walls to form a spout, whereby'the spout occupies a minimum space between the side walls of adjacently disposed containers, so as to permit packing the containers with their side walls in substantial contact.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

(HA MPE GERALDINE FITZHUG H. 

